Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith says he’s not eager for trade
Josh Smith is aware of the trade speculation swirling around him. He knows much of that speculation is fueled by the belief that he desperately wants out of Atlanta.
But Smith said today he’s not eager to be traded, though he’s bracing for the possibility.
“I’m not saying I want [a trade] to happen but if it does I will just have to deal with it,” he said.
Smith said the Hawks haven’t told him anything about a trade. But he noted that players aren’t usually privy to the team’s internal deliberations until a deal is going down.
“Right now I’m with the Hawks,” he said. “I think we have a special group. I just want to win.”
There’s no doubt Smith is frustrated about the flak he took from fans, media and Larry Drew over his shot selection. But it still doesn’t seem as if he’s pushing the Hawks to get him out of town.
Meanwhile, the latest rumors have the Magic acquiring Andre Miller and his non-guaranteed 2011-12 deal from Portland and then using that as part of a bigger deal. And since Dwight Howard apparently wants to play with Smith, that naturally leads to speculation that the Magic would use Miller as part of a package to acquire Smith.
UPDATE: Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Miller-to-Orlando speculation is “overblown.”
UPDATE II: Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Hawks are trying to trade Smith to Minnesota for the No. 2 pick so they can select Turkish center Enes Kanter.
Kanter was ruled ineligible to play for Kentucky last season after the NCAA determined he played professionally in Europe. According to NBADraft.net, Kanter has a history of knee problems.
Hawks assistant GM Dave Pendergraft was asked last week about Kanter’s lack of competition for a year and lack of high-level competition at all.
“He played so well at the Hoop Summit against the best young players,” Pendergraft. “And then [scouts] saw him practice at Kentucky later in the year. With that body and that kind of physical maturity, when you weigh that in and rank your players, the teams in that mix are comfortable with the decision that they are going to make.”
NBA co-director of scouting Ryan Blake on Kanter:
“He missed a year of game experience, development in game situations. He’s a very unique player. He could have made a lot of money playing pro [overseas], but he wanted to come over here, learn the language and improve his skills. He felt that was the best way to develop. He is gifted fundamentally with all the skills he possesses. Another thing is you can look at a a guy’s work ethic and heart and desire. Here is a guy that doesn’t back down. He wants to play against anybody and wants to prove what he can do. He is highly skilled.”
Trading Smith as a salary dump makes little sense (and is complicated by the $4 million trade kicker his new team would have to pay). Smith is still only 25. He’s productive, versatile, and valuable. The two years and $26 million left on his contract runs neck-and-neck with Al Horford’s new deal as the best bargain on the team.
If the Hawks somehow managed to unload Marvin Williams’ contract in the process of trading Smith, then the salary dump angle would make more sense. It still wouldn’t be palatable from a basketball standpoint unless they could also replace Smith’s production in the deal but clearly Williams has the kind of deal they would gladly send away.
If the Hawks also were to work a trade that included Smith and brought them back a superior player (or at least a comparable player at center or small forward) for even a one-season run then it would make some sense from a basketball standpoint. If the Hawks were able to get productive young players and draft picks in a deal, and then turn those assets into something down the line, then that might be a successful path, too.
Of course, looming in the background (or maybe the foreground) of all this speculation about salary shedding: The Hawks gave the richest contract in the league to a player that even their GM doesn’t believe is an MVP candidate.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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242 comments Add your comment
JustAThought
June 23rd, 2011
5:16 pm
Why do you all think that Orlando will trade DH to the hawks for any or all the players on their roster? If and when Orlando trade DW, you can believe they will get a “legit” center in return (ie Bynum from the Lakers and maybe even Odum as well).
TheAntiMe
June 23rd, 2011
5:17 pm
I guess that the ASG has drained enough of the life out of Atlanta sports. If anyone sees any of the ASG ownership out in public hopefully they will kick those ASG owner(s) where it counts. Really, really hard!!!
darrell starks
June 23rd, 2011
5:20 pm
shake&brake i cosign
The hawks will not get SUPERMAN unless josh is here.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
shake&break
June 23rd, 2011
5:22 pm
Orlando may not be thinking replace a center with a center. They may be thinking replace a great player with the best package we can get because this guy is going to leave us. Atlanta has a couple of things in its’ favor. That being Smoove and Howard being from Atlanta, plus I think having JJ as a legit All Star level player would be something you talk up.
Also, maybe Orlando would not want to take a risk on a injury prone Bynum and a aging Odom. Maybe so, maybe not….but if Horford is so valuable and Marvin is so efficient then maybe the Magic would have some interest.
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
5:25 pm
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
5:14 pm
no the diffrence is 3 BIG inches! Al is 6ft 8 , Kanter is 6ft101/2 legit !
The size difference between Al and the rest of the centers in the NBA isn’t that much that he should whine about it . . .
Presham from Port Arthur
June 23rd, 2011
5:27 pm
Funny thing is…nobody going no where…Go hawks!!!
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
5:35 pm
CONservative Johnson
The size difference between Al and the rest of the centers in the NBA isn’t that much that he should whine about it . . .
the Mavs starting center was Chandler who is a legit 7ft1…And if it ain’t no big deal, why has no one asked Josh to play center
L.S.
June 23rd, 2011
5:40 pm
Don’t panic, Remember the Hawks jumping to keep Koncack from Detroit.
The Truth
June 23rd, 2011
5:42 pm
Reckless and Abandon
You know writers are staving around the league for information when they are making sh!t up and masquerading it as fact. First they create bone-headed ideas into rumors and confirm them with lengthy articles as if they were fact. Honestly, there is no difference between a rumor and a confirmed rumor, they are both BS.
“Josh Smith is aware of the trade speculation swirling around him. He knows much of that speculation is fueled by the belief that he desperately wants out of Atlanta”.
The key words here are “speculation” which can be interchanged with BS and “belief” which (in this context) is what other people think. MC: Show me a Josh quote where he has publicly stated that he wants “out of Atlanta”. Just to dramatize it even further (I notice) you threw in the word “desperately” to suggest he really wants out now.
This type of chatter seems to fit nicely with the theory that since Josh has a relatively low contract compared to his high-value on the team, then the Hawks must be pursing a deal involving him to upgrade the team; clearly not the gospel but a least a plausible idea. This theory stays strong when conceptually profiling a player in exchange for Josh as being “elite” level that can fill immediate needs for the Hawks even better than Josh can. But when you start naming names of such an “elite” level player, this theory becomes the analogy of building a house from hollow logs; very shaky, very shaky indeed.
In other words, it’s a very weak argument. If such a replacement player for Josh was identified equal to Josh’s contribution, relatively low contract price and comparable age, I seriously doubt his team would be willing to trade him. So this induces other theories such as: Josh is disgruntled because he is unappreciated by Atlanta fans and he just want to leave the Hawks for greener pastures. Beside from the regular anti-Josh “trolls” on this blog and a small minority, where are these unappreciated Atlanta fans?
If the “trade to upgrade” shoe didn’t fit, than maybe this one will. However, for this shoe to have legs, it must be validated. So soliciting responses from Josh to “confirm rumors” and speculations are proof in this pudding. I know the Josh-haters are having wet dreams with all this drama but frankly I’m not. Let’s just hope Josh knows manure when he smells it as well.
Ray
June 23rd, 2011
5:43 pm
It seems like only Al has complained about shifting to PF except there is this other guy named Kendrick Perkins who is similar height not similar weight, but he’s pretty undersized for the C and yet he didn’t complain.
KEEP SMITH if you don’t get ready for the highlight factory to become the no light factory it won’t be there. Enes Kanter and Derrick Williams = unproven why trade a proven for something unproven.
Astro Joe
June 23rd, 2011
5:44 pm
I wonder how many folk would have been excited if we had drafted Pau Gasol at #2 a few years ago instead of trading him for Marietta’s Shareef Abdur-Rahim? My guess is that (if this blog existed back then), 80%+ would have voted for SAR. How did that work out?
I wouldn’t know this Kanter kid if he walked up and handed me a cheesesteak, but making a trade to acquire the best big man in the draft seems like something that shouldn’t be summarily dismissed. And it is the kind of bold move many around here often clamor the Hawks to do.
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
5:47 pm
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
5:35 pm
All I’m saying is that Josh didn’t whine about playing against Howard in that series when he needed to . . .
There have been recent champions who had centers that were close to Al’s size:
2004 Pistons (Ben Wallace who is smaller)
2005 and 2007 Spurs (an unknown guy in one year and Nazr Mohammed)
2008 Celtics (Perkins isn’t a 7 footer)
Neki Ecko
June 23rd, 2011
5:56 pm
But if its wasnt true, why CNNSI(a very respectfully website) still running the story. Somebody is lying and we know that ASG did lied a few times about the Thrashers situation.
Now also CBSSports is also running that story as well. Something isnt right at all.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
5:56 pm
From Najeh :
Like LaGree, I can’t shake the feeling that a Smoove trade will be a) a direct result of giving Joe that contract, b) result in the Hawks acquiring lesser players, and c) will be yet another mistake made by Hawks management in an attempt to rectify previous mistakes, which has pretty much been the M.O. for them for the last six years.
No more need be said. Always good to hear from somebody who understands the big picture and doesn’t get caught up in one or two details.
Good stuff, Najeh .
Wabe
June 23rd, 2011
5:57 pm
Astro Joe, point taken.
I am one of those that wants to shake things up. But, I wanna shake things up with a plan in mind. What does this organization intend on doing in the coming years? Is there a blueprint? Do they know what they want to do?
Or are they going to continue to make spontaneous moves time and time again? Each move they make is just a cover-up for the move that they’ve made in the past, IMO.
Again, I don’t know anywhere near enough about Kanter to say much. But, until JJ’s contract is off the books, I’d think the gameplan would be to put peices around JJ that would allow us to propel to the next level. Fact is, when the Hawks signed JJ to that monster contract, and then when they shipped Bibby/Evans/JC2 and a 1st round pick, that kinda signals they’re in it to win it *now*. But, a move like the one that’s being rumored doesn’t back that notion, IMO.
We’ll see how things play out. All most folks want is a plan. Not these spur of the moment moves without much thought behind them. I’m actively behind making a move that would shake things up. But I question whether this move is the Hawks best move, especially with the risk involved.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
5:57 pm
@Big Ray
Haven’t seen you in a while. How ya been?
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
5:58 pm
Ray ,
Kendrick Perkins never has been a PF. Al played PF in college (Noah was the center).
Perkins is also bigger, heavier, stronger…and slower. Al is about 245, Perkins can shove him around, he weighs roughly 280. Quite a difference, to be honest.
Ray
June 23rd, 2011
5:59 pm
This is going to blow up in our faces thanks a lot ASG and Sund you guys are awesome it’s going to be another Decade of misery before we have another Star when this goes away.
It’s like their trying to remind us of what happened in the 90’s lol(it isn’t funny).
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:00 pm
jason ,
I’m doin’ okay, how about you? I’ve checked in here and there. Hasn’t been much to talk about, to be honest. But maybe there will be some fireworks tonight, eh?
As for this reported sale of the team, my guess is that either a new investor has entered the picture (buyer beware) or there is a serious “new investor” discussion deal going on.
But whoever said the ASG has lied before is right….
Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:02 pm
@ Big Ray True, but I never heard about Perkins complain about man these guys are taller than me is all I’m saying I know of the weight differences.
If we get someone via free agency or draft it needs to be someone will leadership abilites Horford could be the guy, but he punks out too often for my taste he’ll say something and then nothing. It’s like LD talk the talk, but never walk the walk.
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
6:03 pm
So, how were we able to beat them with Perkins, Big Ray?
jason
June 23rd, 2011
6:03 pm
Didn’t they say it was a rumor?
GT Alum
June 23rd, 2011
6:10 pm
Hmm, so now we have rumors that a deal is imminent to sell the Hawks. Not the first time we’ve heard those rumors either, so I’m not putting too much stock in it.
The interesting thing is these 2 rumors would seem to be contradictory. It’s doubtful you would trade a key piece of your team if you’re in the process of selling it, unless this move is being dictated by the new ownership.
As far as the Smith-for-Kanter deal is concerned, I wonder if the logic is trade Smith for Kanter, move Al to PF, and use the salary they save to re-sign Jamal. Essentially, that would allow the Hawks to maintain basically the same roster, with the only real change being exchanging Smith for Kanter, who might fit the role of traditional C that people have been saying the Hawks need.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:11 pm
Conservative Johnson ,
Who are you talking about? The advantage Horford has had over Perkins has been speed/outside shooting game. And he only had the outside shot this past season. Horford also didn’t face Perkins much (if at all) this past season.
Ray ,
Look back at the quotes. Al’s comments have been about banging against big guys, not “hey, these guys are taller than me.”
Same comments from his father, Tito Horford. Think about that for a second…Al Horford has routinely beaten the crap out of Pacers center Roy Hibbert over the past two years. Why? Hibbert really isn’t a banger and he’s also a lot slower than Al. But he’s 7′2″
Al’s problem has been with guys who are bigger (weigh more) more than it has been with guys who are taller. He’s even done okay against Bucks center Andrew Bogut (7′0″).
He’ll say that guys with height and length who hustle have given him problems, but he only has expressed concern with guys who are heavier and stronger.
Perkins never complained because that’s his role. He’s big, heavy, strong, and very physical. That, and nobody is looking to him much for offense (unlike Horford). Why would Perkins complain when even guys like Dwight Howard can’t outmuscle him? Nothing to complain about…
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:16 pm
Ray ,
I’ll also say this – Al’s mentality isn’t where it needs to be. He was a truly rugged player his first 2-3 years in the league. Last year he wasn’t as much of a blue collar guy.
But we forget that there are things we don’t know about. Former coach Woodson didn’t care to have Al as a key part of the offense. He was quoted as saying the team would be in good shape if they could get Al up to 12 or 13 points per game , preferring to do all the work through Joe Johnson. The man hardly ran plays for anybody else until Jamal came along (though he had an even bigger love affair with Mike Bibby than Drew did).
Drew wanted Al more involved in the offense, and he wanted it more from the perimeter. Sure, Al wanted to play more PF. But he also said he was fine with doing most of his time at center.
I find it strange that while we play the offseason blame game, many people are saying that Al demanded/whined/complained/whatever about what position he was playing. All I heard him talk about was the constant banging at the center position, and how he would like to have a bigger guy (again, he never said “get me a taller guy”) out there to help out and play some center.
And I still have yet to see anybody post an article quoting him as saying what people here are constantly insisting that he said. Nothing like misrepresentation…
RealSquawk
June 23rd, 2011
6:28 pm
Astro Joe – I am right there with you in the bold move department. And if it is the #2 and Wes Johnson or the #2 and Beaseley then I am all in, but i would rather see Joe Johnson been on his way out than Josh Smith.
If we want to be even bolder we would trade down (if we had the #2 pick) for like one more asset or draft pick, now that is bold.
Daddy Long Long
June 23rd, 2011
6:30 pm
Every year the same ole trade Josh Smith ISH. Get over it, he is ATL and all the hustle n’ muscle we’ve got. Trade Al, he should return plenty. We don’t need the 4 playing the 5 position. Love ya Al, but that Joe contract got this franchise’s payroll Iso too. It is what it is…
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
6:30 pm
Big Ray, you might be right that Al Horford didn’t whine as much in the media as everyone says.
He did have his daddy whining and “begging” for him in the media:
“I’ve been begging [general manager] Rick Sund and the Hawks for the last three years – please get a center so my son can pay his normal position,” the elder Horford said
Horford:
“I don’t see myself playing center the rest of my career.”
“My dad was built for this,” he said. “It takes a toll on your body when you’re going against guys that outweigh you by 50, 60 pounds every night and have three, four inches on you.
“I feel pretty good now. But I wonder how I’ll feel a couple of years from now.”
“I like playing against guys my own size.”
Nah, I was wrong. That comes off like whining to me (all quotes from AJC.com) . . .
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/02/08/al-horford-an-all-star-at-center-but-hes-taking-a-beating/
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
6:30 pm
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
5:47 pm
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
5:35 pm
All I’m saying is that Josh didn’t whine about playing against Howard in that series when he needed to . . .
There have been recent champions who had centers that were close to Al’s size:
2004 Pistons (Ben Wallace who is smaller)
2005 and 2007 Spurs (an unknown guy in one year and Nazr Mohammed)
2008 Celtics (Perkins isn’t a 7 footer)
I love when people say this, detroit had 6ft11 Rasheed, Okur 7ft, Eldin Campbell 7ft
Nazr is a legit 6ft10 and DUNCAN is 7ft
The Celtics had a 6ft11 guy name Garnett
hawksfancents95
June 23rd, 2011
6:34 pm
omg if we trade josh for these lesser players just to dump some salary we deserve to lose in the first round for years to come. especially if we trade josh for a tanner zaza pachulia look alike(kanter), that would not help us in anyway. i would be ok if we traded josh to minnesota for #2 and drafted derrick williams for our SF and got like anthony randolph or beasley in return.
as for cleveland and their #1 and #4 if i were them id get dwill at #1 and kemba or brevin knight if he slips at #4, i think kyrie will be a good PG but nothing like john wall or drose
cleve lineup 11-12
PG-Knight/Walker
SG-Baron Davis
SF-Derrick Williams
PF-JJ Hickson
C-Anderson Varejo
that team might be able to sneak into the playoffs but i think if they take kyrie they defenitley have no chance at the playoffs
Are any of my bloggers going to be on for the whole draft? i cant wait for these trades and surprise picks
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
6:36 pm
It was not a bad pick
June 23rd, 2011
6:30 pm
Rasheed didn’t play Center and he wasn’t known as a rebounder or shot blocker. He averaged less of both than Josh who plays next to Al.
Nazr is about Horford’s size in height and weight.
Didn’t the smaller Josh play Perkins a lot by the way?
ryan
June 23rd, 2011
6:39 pm
If Minneapolis still has the 2nd pick by draft time Josh Smith will still be a Hawk .
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
6:39 pm
“no the diffrence is 3 BIG inches! Al is 6ft 8 , Kanter is 6ft101/2 legit !”
Al is 6′9.75″, Kanter is 6′11.25″… a difference of 1.5 inches.
Al’s wingspan is 7′0.75″, Kanter’s wingspan is 7′1.5″… a difference of 0.75 inches.
Negligible difference.
Granny, I know at your age it’s hard to hold up that tape measure without your hands shaking, but there is very little difference between Al and Kanter in terms of size.
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
6:44 pm
I’ve been busy with work lately.
FIRE LD
HIRE WORLDWIDE CLYDE OR DRMARYB
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
6:45 pm
“I wouldn’t know this Kanter kid if he walked up and handed me a cheesesteak, but making a trade to acquire the best big man in the draft seems like something that shouldn’t be summarily dismissed. ”
Kanter is the best big man… in the worst draft since 2000. And it’s no guarantee that he can play center any better than Al. A Smoove trade would presumably be made to move Al to PF full time.
From what I have seen of Kanter, his game is pretty similar to Al’s game anyway.
kirkinga
June 23rd, 2011
6:46 pm
Right now, the biggest question in my mind is are we going to keep our basketball team? I don’t believe ASG’s denial if there are two league sources saying otherwise.
I also do not think Josh Smith will be a Hawk next season. Somebody is leaving, and it appears to be Josh. I don’t think his trade value gets any higher the longer he stays.
If there is a superstar to be had, the Hawks should make the deal. Otherwise, they have to do what they can not to bring the same team back.
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
6:47 pm
WHY ARE THERE RUMORS WE ARE GOING TO GET A PG?
WE HAVE TEAGUE
CONservative Johnson
June 23rd, 2011
6:49 pm
kirkinga, the team would look a lot better with Jeff Teague starting next season . . .
Rod from College Park
June 23rd, 2011
6:50 pm
Big Ray,
“Kendrick Perkins never has been a PF. Al played PF in college (Noah was the center).”
Not true. Al Horford was the center at Florida. I have posted the info several times for Marvin’s grandmother. Al Horford was the one who matched up against Oden, not Noah. Al Horford was the starting center for the Florida Gators. Yes he played some PF, but he was the starting center the majority of the time, not Noah.
Buddy Grizzard
June 23rd, 2011
6:50 pm
From previous blogs:
“LD’s not the worst coach ever…or whatever? Have you forgotten Woodson already?” – Grandad
Whoah there my good sir, was talking about currently-employed head coaches, not worst all time.
“Currently, I would prefer LD over Rambis or Westphal, just off the top of my head.”
There you go, and I can hardly argue with Rambis. It’s said he was extremely disinterested. Lame Duck is at least highly engaged, although posessed of some really awful ideas about roster management.
“Is that a misspelling, or am I missing the meaning?” – Big Ray
Not sure which term you meant so, from urbandictionary.com:
1. troll
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument
4. Homebrew
A word used to describe a male friend, not of the gay variety
“What kind of organization ignores every veteran coach candidate it could potentially hire and instead gives the former coach’s top assistant the job.”
The kind of organization that is run by basketball neophytes who don’t have either the sense or the desire to hire competent basketball people to run their operations and let those people do their jobs. Sund has had an up and down career. And I troll him constantly, but I don’t actually think he’s incompetent. I just think he only has a job because he understands that his sole function is to rubber stamp basketball decisions that are made by neophytes like Gearon, who think they are Al Davis.
“Are the Hawks viewing this past season/post-season as a failure of any kind?”
Apparently not. If they viewed it as a failure, then perhaps they would have, in a show of good faith to the fans, fired Drew. Just like they should have, after JJ said he didn’t care if the fans showed up, executed a sign-and-trade and let him go elsewhere for whatever assets they could get, rather than saddle this franchise for 6 years with the contract of an underperforming player who doesn’t want to be held accountable for his team’s failures?
But see, I think the reason they rewarded JJ with the richest contract in basketball is because they see themselves in JJ. The ASG also does not want to be held accountable for its failures. So when the entire organization is mortally embarrassed by the incompetence of the coach they have hired (i.e. when LD left Horford on the bench for an entire half, an act one writer described as the worst coaching mistake in the history of playoff basketball), does that organization step forward, come clean with the fans, say “we made a mistake, we made the wrong hire,” and try to do better? Not this organization. They just keep chugging along like they expect Lame Duck to lead us all to the promised land next season.
“The Hawks lobbied for Drew to be the coach.”
Again, the idea is to “hire competent basketball people… and let those people do their jobs.” You’re letting the players pick the coach? This will forever serve as a cautionary tale. Reminds me of when Dominique wanted the Hawks to fire Fratello, an excellent defensive coach, and bring in Bob Weiss, a “players’ coach.” We all know how that worked out, although maybe Sund didn’t because he hired Weiss years later in Seattle. You don’t let the inmates run the asylum. Best evidence of ASG incompetence.
Buddy Grizzard
June 23rd, 2011
6:51 pm
Najeh,
Whoever passes on Derrick Williams will regret it.
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:52 pm
conservative johnson ,
Sounds to me like all those quotes proved my point – Al is talking about playing guys who are physically bigger and stronger than he is.
How is that whining? Where did he say he can’t do this anymore? All he said is basically that he doesn’t see himself doing it his whole career, that he feels fine now, but he wonders if he’ll still feel fine later.
Again – I think he needs to have a more rugged attitude. But I also look around the League and wonder how many other teams are trotting a 6′9″ 245 pound guy out there at center….and how many of THOSE guys are two-time allstars.
Tell you who refused to play center…6′10″ Amare Stoudamire. Nobody says anything about him though….LOL.
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
6:52 pm
MC, you said earlier that the deadline for trades was 2pm. How is that possible? There are always trades during the draft or are they announced later on?
Grandmaster JeJe
June 23rd, 2011
6:55 pm
I wouldn’t trade Joe and Al for Dwight and Arenas
Arenas’s health and defense are too much of a risk.
Al Horford gets a free pass from these playoffs as does Jamal. They both f’ing sucked in the Chicago series, yet no one wants to acknowledge that. People act like we MUST resign Jamal
GTFOH
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
6:56 pm
Trading Smoove for the #2 pick and rolling the dice on Derrick Williams — a guy who could maybe be the superstar this team hasn’t had for 20 years — is a bold move. Trading Smoove for the #2 pick and taking a guy who, in the best case scenario, duplicates Al is just a dumb move.
Now a really bold move would be trading Joe.
jason
June 23rd, 2011
6:56 pm
When will the deal be official.. :/ I’m tired of watchin NBA TV’s Draft preview…
Big Ray
June 23rd, 2011
6:57 pm
Buddy Grizzard ,
LOL…thanks for the urbandictionary update. I am all too familiar with the word troll, but I haven’t been up on my urban text speak lately so, the Homebrew escaped me. Good stuff, my man, good stuff.
Okay, let me extend to you an apology. I really thought you were honed completely in on Drew, and was completely ignoring the ASG. I was wrong, you seem to have a damn good handle on what the big picture problem is.
Having said that, I’m not a Larry Drew fan, and wasn’t from the beginning. To be absolutely honest, I thought Drew was a guy they should have given the job to the first or second time Billy Knight tried to fire Woody, and was rebuffed by…you guessed it…the ASG.
It would have been a completely natural move back then. Hell, they could even have done it during the period where Woody got that two year contract, while they did their homework and searched for a veteran head coach. But, they didn’t.
Glad to know you are very much aware of the incompetence of a group of guys who want to meddle in something they don’t know how to handle.
And oh how I wish the SI.com report was true….
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2011
6:58 pm
“I wouldn’t trade Joe and Al for Dwight and Arenas
Arenas’s health and defense are too much of a risk.”
I can’t speak for others, but the only reason I include Arenas in that deal is to entice Orlando to accept it. Arenas has the worst contract in the league, but to acquire a legit superstar, I think that’s a worthwhile tax to pay, especially if there will be an amnesty clause in the new CBA. Without including him, I would imagine the Hawks would have to give up Teague and multiple draft picks in addition to Joe and Al for Orlando to even consider it.
GT Alum
June 23rd, 2011
6:58 pm
kirkinga -
You obviously haven’t been paying attention to the sale of the Thrashers. Part of the agreement for Philips Arena is that the Hawks have to play all of their home games there until the bonds for the arena are paid off, which isn’t supposed to happen until 2028.
Buddy Grizzard
June 23rd, 2011
7:00 pm
Najeh – Kanter is possibly the most physically fit big man to ever be tested at the combine. Only guards have ever tested as well as he did. So he’s very serious about fitness, but I worry about his knees. The fact that he didn’t play professionally overseas and instead sat out a season after being ruled ineligible makes me wonder if he’s not hiding persistent knee issues.
Meanwhile Derrick Williams is a legit shooter with three-point range, can finish emphatically at the rim, and LED THE NATION in free throw attempts. Picking Kanter ahead of Williams would be like picking Sam Bowie ahead of Jordan.